Reproductive Isolation Teacher Resources

Different islands in the Caribbean have very similar species of anole lizards, which each have their own place in the ecosystem. Researchers did several studies to determine whether the anoles evolved into the different species then...

This doesn't have to be used as a guided notes learning exercise because the questions are thought-provoking and applicable to any biology class that is learning about the origin of species. Pupils write out answers to questions about...

Allow Mr. Anderson to assist you in describing how one species can become two through speciation and reproductive isolation. Intended for upper graders, this clip wonderfully explains several complex concepts in a way your class can...

Viewers see how reproductive isolation can lead to speciation as the narrator of a video focusing on speciation explains the steps to reproductive isolation and addresses both allopatric and sympatric speciation. 

Examples of natural selection over time will make the concept of evolution more clear to your students. This presentation is short but summarizes the mechanisms of isolation and selection clearly.  This presentation would be useful...

About 70 percent of the genes of the stickleback fish are the same as humans. In the video, scholars further explore the stickleback fish and its history, from being removed from Loberg Lake to their change and comeback. Over time, these...

Students read an article on the characteristics of wolves and dogs then complete a phylogenetic tree of the canid family. They then write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.

Students illustrate the results of natural selection by identifying conditions that could lead to the development of new species (speciation) based on a given description of environmental conditions and description of variation within a...

Foster's Rule? Allopatric speciation? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation, class members use Venn diagrams to compare endemic species on the Channel Islands with mainland related species. They then create a...

Um may be the atomic symbol for confusion, but it won't be needed in this lesson plan. Scholars rotate through seven stations completing experiments, hands-on activities, writing exercises, and analysis. Stations include material on...

Why is Australia home to the world's only population of kangaroos? The answer? Speciation! Biology scholars discover the factors that cause new species to emerge through an engaging video as part of a Fuse School playlist on...

Ligers grow at a rate of 2.2 pounds every second day, thus by the end of their first year, they can weigh up to 364 pounds. Ligers are the subject of a video the looks at hybrids and shows viewers how speciation can occur via...

Darwin believed species came from other pre-existing species. Now we know it is more complicated than that. The video focuses on speciation and patterns of evolution.

What happens to a species when members become separated by changes in their environment? Present young biologists with the ultimate example species—the anole lizard. A brief video describes the origins of the multitude of anole species...

After viewing information about different types of isolation, students will see that reproduction among a group will cause the frequency of a specific trait to increase. The history of prominent scientists such as Charles Darwin are and...

Fifteen terms pertaining to speciation, extinction, and gene flow are to be matched to their definitions. This simple, easy-to-read learning exercise can be used as a pop quiz for your biology learners when studying natural selection...

Students place different subspecies of a CA salamander are placed on grid map of CA according to where samples were collected. Then discuss patterns of their distribution, their likely evolutionary relationships, and probable sequence of...

Students use this activity as a logic problem that is based on real organisms and real data. The problem is to develop phylogenies for seven related populations of lizards living on the Canary Islands. Three phylogenetic charts are...

Students engage in solving a logic problem based on real organisms and real data. They develop phylogenies for seven related populations of lizards living on the Canary Islands.

Students attempt to pick up various objects with a wide variety of beaks, including scissors, spoons, etc.

High schoolers develop likely phylogenies for seven related populations of lizards living on the Canary Islands using real data. They organize charts, and record the data for geography, geology, morphology, and molecular genetics.

Students examine the definition of species. Students complete a phylogentic tree of the Canidae family. They write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.

Learn about speciation, including allopatric and sympatric speciation and mechanisms of reproductive isolation. [10:46]